My first film on Day 11 of the Fantasia International Film Festival was the Canadian Premiere of the South Korean fantasy/comedy film Naeanui Geunom aka The Dude In Me. It opened in South Korean theaters back in early January.
The film was written by Park Dae-sung and directed by Kang Hyo-jin. It stars Young Jin, Ra Mi-ran, Park Sung-Woong, and Lee Soo-Min.
Here’s the synopsis for the movie (copied from the Fantasia website):
“Forty-something businessman Jang Pan-su always gets his way — even if it requires asking his henchmen to use threats and violence. One fateful day, in a ramen shop, he runs into Dong-hyun, a 17-year-old boy with an endless appetite, whom he immediately scorns. Alas, soon after, the overweight teenager literally falls on him, and when he wakes up in the hospital, Jang Pan-su realizes to his great dismay that they have swapped bodies during the collision. When the boss in his new form discovers that Dong-hyun is the favourite target of the school bullies, his true natures comes out and he can’t help but slap them around. Things become more complicated with the introduction of a classmate who is also a bullying victim, and who happens to be the daughter of a woman Jang Pan-su once knew…”
Obviously, The Dude In Me uses the body-swapping recipe made popular by Hollywood in movies like Vice Versa, Freaky Friday, The Change-Up, etc… But it was entertaining!
The accent is put on the mob boss living in the teenager’s body for most of the first two acts of the film. Many funny situations occur as well as some drama, romance, and combat scenes. Then, the teenager in the mob boss’ body makes a return and more silly things, drama, romance, and combat happen. It doesn’t reinvent the genre but it’s a good mix of everything that offers two hours of light entertainment.
I don’t know what the distribution plan is for this film but if you spot it at the theater or online, I’d say check it out.
I am giving The Dude In Me a 3.5 out of 5 Hairpieces!
Here’s the trailer:
#Fantasia2019 #FantasiaFest #TheDudeinMe
Cinephellas 